Every Married Woman Deserves A Family Like Hers – Story of Afroz

‘Pradhan’, on hearing this word, our mind paints a picture of a village and a man; who is responsible for the administration of that village, who heads all the affairs and take cares of that village. It is not very often that a woman is brought into this picture but times have changed and so have the women of India, particularly in the hinterlands.

Indian women have often been associated to household chores, their responsibilities and duties have always been confined to the four walls of her house or her kitchen to be precise. But over the period of time, many women have broken the shackles of just being a homemaker. They have successfully broken the stereotype and so we find women CEOs heading companies, women athletes and also women Pradhans, which was earlier impossible to imagine.

Nizampur Malhaur is one of those villages that is an example of how rural women have joined the bandwagon of change, how women of remote areas are also contributing to building a new society; a society free from sterotypes, patriarchy and misogyny. Afroz Jahan is the Pradhan of Nizampur and also the epitome of development and good work in her village. She is an inspiration to other women too.

Afroz is challenging a common notion that a woman can not be the epicenter of outdoor activities and duties, she is the true face of women empowerment. Her story tells us that with a little support, liberation and encouragement women can achieve huge milestones. She sets an example that how freedom acts as a catalyst helping women get their share of success and joy. As India celebrates its Independence, let us all pledge to guarantee its women their share of freedom, their share of Independence.

The Logical Indian community thanks and appreciates Vim for apprising the world of Afroz Jahan’s beautiful and inspiring story. We hope that her story would motivate several others to not conform to the rules laid down by the society. We believe that her story would motivate others to step outside of their comfort zones and make people realise what is the true meaning of being Independent. Charity begins at home and so does change. This Independence day, let us all strive to bring that change in our society.

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Know Why This Small Town In Tamil Nadu Is In The Guinness Book Of World Records

Did you know there is a town at the southern tip of India that can be called ‘Heaven on Earth’. Its people realise the importance of keeping the environment clean.

Madukkarai Panchayat in Coimbatore district, Tamil Nadu, is the cleanest place in India, owing to around 50 women who wake up every day to collect waste from each and every household in the town. At 6 AM, the women set out to work with their green jackets on, hands covered in gloves and caps adjusted perfectly on their heads. Every morning they line up for the roll call. These ‘Green Friends’ are part of the solid waste management program supported by ACC Cement – Madukkarai.

Madukkarai, a small town at the tip of the country, is in the Guinness Book of World Records for the largest recycling lesson in the world. With the help of around 50 women, who are now called ‘Green Friends’, and a simple, scalable model, this town is leading the way for efficient waste management. #SwachhBharat

While most of us find someone to put the blame on, Madukkarai decided to take control in their own hands. The town has 8,000 households and a population of 42,000. 82% of the homes hand over garbage to ‘Green Friends’ every day. 1,440 tonnes of garbage is collected annually from the town of 18 wards and 107 streets.

There is a lot that we can learn from Madukkarai. One of the most disturbing realities that we face, despite which part of the country we reside in, is the similar dirt everywhere – garbage piled up on roadside, drains clogged with plastic bags and dogs chewing on the leftover food we have callously thrown on the streets.

We keep our homes clean; make sure that the floors are mopped every day. But why do we not share the same sentiment for our surroundings? We hardly realize that the street outside our home is as much ours as is anybody else’s. We are the ones who use these roads every day to commute. Madukkarai realized this and the importance of a clean environment for our health and well-being.

Guinness Book of World Records for the largest recycling lesson in the world

‘Green Friends’ collect household wastes in eight different bins for wet waste, kitchen waste, plastic waste, etc. This is then disposed in large bins kept in several parts of the town. Trucks pick up this waste daily and take it to the resource recovery park where the garbage is recycled.

The treatment center segregates the different types of wastes. The kitchen waste is converted into fertilizers and given to farmers at extremely low prices to use in cultivation of their crops. The plastic waste is processed to be used in the construction of roads, and also at the large ACC factory where it is used as fuel at high temperatures which does not even cause pollution.

Due to the efforts of ‘Green Friends’, the citizens of Madukkarai, and the municipality, there has been a 60% reduction in landfill waste over the span of three years. There has also been a 50% reduction in the vehicle movement to the landfill sites, 85% of organic waste is converted successfully into vermin compost, ample reduction in the use of fossil fuels, reduction in greenhouse gas emission to 60%, and substantial decrease in the spread of malaria and dengue among the people. Furthermore, barren lands provided for compost yard have been successfully converted into fully functional organic compost yard and non-recyclable waste is used as an alternative energy source for the cement industry.

Madukkarai’s citizens have also become more environment-friendly, with 30% of the households segregating the organic-recyclable waste at home.

What we can learn

Madukkarai has paved the way to the sustainable development of our world. They have shown us that is not impossible to keep our environment clean. All we need is to inculcate in us a concern for mother Earth. It is commendable that ACC is supporting Madukkarai in its venture and helping it stay clean.

We, as citizens of other towns, cities, villages and states in India, have a lot to learn from Madukkarai. We too can have a healthier life if only we care enough and practice our civil duties proudly.